Desk-ruler



A (No Model.)

@RRSPAPARD 'DESK RULBR.

No. 538309. j Patent-ed Mayr?, 1895;

rrnn STATES4 l ELISHA P. SPAFARD, OF GLASTONBURY, CONNECTICUT.

DESK-RULER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,709, dated May 7, 1895.

Application filed December 28, 1894:. Serial No. 5331162- (NO model-' 'To all whom it may concer-n.-

Be it known that I, ELIsHA P. SPAFARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glastonbury, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Desk-Rulers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the class of implements that are used about a desk .for ruling straight lines, for measuring short distances or for tearing paper, checks and the like; and the object is to provide an implement of this class which is simple and cheap to manufacturefwhich is convenient for use in ruling straight lines or tearing paper, checks or the like, which is so shaped that it can be easily and readily handled, and which is so constructed that it will retain its shape without danger of warping, twisting or bending with use and age.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the device. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the same, and Fig. 3 is anend View of a modied construction of the device.

In the views l indicates the body of the ruler, which is usually made of a strip of wood, but may if desired lbe formed of any other suitable material with the ordinary beveled edge 2 which is provided with the customary markings into inches and parts of inches, or any other convenient scale. This beveled edge may be reinforced with a strip of metal 3 in the usual manner and the markings may be upon the upper flat face or the lower beveled face, either or both as desired. Secured at an angle to the upper face of this body near the back edge, so as to project upward and backward, is a handle and stiftening strip l which is usually formed of the same material as the body part, and preferably of about the same Width. If the body part l is formed of wood this back strip may be also formed of wood and simply glued to the upper face near the back edge of the body part. In this case the body part and the back strip may be formed at the same time on the same machine, one part being` the counterpart of the other with the exception, of course, of the measuring scales, which are marked along the beveled edge of the body part. If desired, this back strip need not be secured to the upper face of the body part, but the body part may be also beveled on its back edge and this back edge glued to the lower edge of the back strip, as shown in Fig. 3.

A desk tool formed in this manner is simple to manufacture, is cheap to construct and is convenient in use. Vhen the body part is provided with a back strip projecting at an angle in this manner it is held permanently in such a Way that it will not Warp and bend or twist out of shape, for the body part stiiens the back strip and the back strip stiltens and holds the body part. The back strip applied in this manner also provides a handle for the implement which can be firmly grasped and securely held by the ingers when the implement is used either for ruling lines or for tearing paper. When the implement is constructed in this manner it always stands on vthe desk in such position that it can be quickly picked up ready for use, for the back strip Will stand projecting upward, and as it is on the side opposite from the bevel on the lower front edge of the body part, that edge is always right side up ready for use in ruling lines, tearing paper or measuring.

I claim as my invention- 1. A desk ruler consisting of a body part having the lower side of one edge beveled and a back strip projecting from the upper face of the back edge of the body part, substantially as specified.

2. A desk ruler consisting of a body formed of a strip of wood having the lower face of one edge beveled and provided with a wooden back strip which projects upward and backward at an angle from the back edge of the upper face of the body part, substantially as specilied.

ELISHA .P. SPAFARD. Witnesses:

H. R. WILLIAMS, E. J. HYDE.

ATENT rrrc. 

